Sunset on the Fraser River
The Neighbourhood
An ethnically diverse neighbourhood within Ontario Street on the west and Knight Street on the east, Sunset extends from 41st Avenue south to the Fraser River in southeastern Vancouver, British Columbia. Like most of southeast Vancouver, the area was once mostly working class, but rising prices everywhere have made the area increasingly popular with young professionals and families no longer able to afford houses on the west side.
Background
Formerly part of the incorporated District of South Vancouver, the neighbourhood became part of Vancouver in 1929. As farmland sloping southward to the river with clusters of homes and villages by the 1860s, when the Fraser River was a full day’s journey to the Granville Townsite on the Burrard Inlet by boat or overland through forest and swamp, Sunset welcomed the advance of Westminster Avenue, now Main Street, south from Mount Pleasant in 1910.
The first immigrants from Punjab arrived in Vancouver in the 1890s. Most of them settled in the area around Main Street and 49th Avenue, and many established restaurants and businesses there. Over the years the Sunset neighbourhood has become for Vancouver’s estimated 160,000 South Asian residents a central assembly point of culture and commerce.
The number of Punjabi speakers increased steadily for decades. It is now the most common language in Sunset. More than one in four, 26 per cent of the Sunset population, in 2006 spoke Punjabi as their first language compared to less than three per cent of the general city population, 21 percent spoke Chinese, and 24 percent English. Businesses, restaurants, and services catering to these communities proliferated along Fraser and Main streets; prominent among them was the Punjabi Market.
Information Links:
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http://vancouver.ca/green-vancouver/sunset.aspx
http://www.mysunset.net
The Punjabi Market
The Punjabi Market is a commercial district and ethnic enclave in a roughly six-block section around Main Street and 49th Avenue. Vancouver is home to more than 200,000 people of Indian and Pakistani descent, nowhere more vibrant than at the Punjabi Market, a world of glittering bangles, flowing saris, and rich curry aromas. The neighbourhood gives visitors a glimpse of South Asian culture on Canada’s Pacific Coast. Shops sell fine silk saris in a rainbow of bright colors and elaborate gowns with thousands of tiny inlaid gems. Bhangra music from Bollywood films pumps out of storefronts. Fine jewelers offer exquisite gold rings, bracelets, and necklaces. In April, the Punjabi Market celebrates Vaisakhi Day, the Sikh New Year, with a colorful parade through the streets attracting thousands of spectators.
Vancouver’s Punjabi Market has been a city fixture for decades, but the 2013 municipal Assessment Roll Report finds the area in financial trouble: “Values here are down about 15 percent as the regional [Indo-Canadian] retail hub continues to shift towards Surrey.” Even Tourism Vancouver says the Punjabi Market is struggling. Once famous for many jewelry stores, the Punjabi Market now displays lots of empty space for lease. Elsewhere across the city, retail property value assessments rise but decline here as businesses relocate to Surrey.
The Punjabi Market Association says the district needs some help from the city, province, and federal governments if it’s going to survive. The Surrey Board of Trade says its city offers lower rents and taxes than does Vancouver.
New Sunset Live MLS Listings
Sunset, Vancouver, BC
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219 W 42ND Avenue in Vancouver: Oakridge VW House for sale (Vancouver West) : MLS®# R2605839
219 W 42ND Avenue Vancouver V5Y 2T2 
$7,250,000Residential Detached- Status:
- Active
- MLS® Num:
- R2605839
- Bedrooms:
- 4
- Bathrooms:
- 3
- Floor Area:
- 2,952 sq. ft.
LOCATED DIRECTLY across from COLUMBIA PARK! Great opportunity in OAKRIDGE AREA for this Development site with 2-2.5 FSR Cambie Corridor plan zoning for 4-6 storey building on W.42nd Ave and Columbia St. TWO LOT ASSEMBLY. Sold in conjunction with Corner Lot, 211 W.42nd Ave. Total Site is almost 13,000 Square Feet. Prestigious Westside Oakridge Location, close to Skytrain, Oakridge mall, shops and restaurants. Mins from Langara Golf Course & Queen Elizabeth Park. School catchment French Immersion General Gordon Elementary and Churchill Winston Secondary, Sir William Van Horne, Eric Hamber schools. Investors/developers Alert. More detailsListed by RE/MAX City Realty
- Aedis Realty
- 604-688-8669
- 604-657-1111
- Contact by Email
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168 W 48TH Avenue in Vancouver: Oakridge VW House for sale (Vancouver West) : MLS®# R2711204
168 W 48TH Avenue Vancouver V5Y 2Y7
$4,880,000Residential Detached- Status:
- Active
- MLS® Num:
- R2711204
- Bedrooms:
- 5
- Bathrooms:
- 6
- Floor Area:
- 4,020 sq. ft.
1st TIME ON MARKET & RARELY AVAILABLE! High-quality custom home in the most desirable Oakridge area, next to Langara College & minutes from Canada Line. This gorgeous house features a timeless design, beautiful millwork & moulding, functional floor plan, high-ceilings, air-conditioning, South-facing back yard & 2 BEDROOM laneway home w/ covered garage parking. Top floor consists of 3 bedrooms, each w/ an ensuite. Large media room, den, office and living spaces, roller blinds, gourmet kitchen, Wolf gas-range, extra-wide Sub-zero fridge, quartz countertops, backsplash, quality appliances, spa-inspired bathrooms & soaker tub for yourself to enjoy. 10 minutes to DT & Richmond. 1 bus to UBC & Metrotown. Steps from parks & various schools. OPEN HOUSE 24 & 30 2-4PM More detailsListed by RE/MAX City Realty - Aedis Realty
- 604-688-8669
- 604-657-1111
- Contact by Email
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173 SW MARINE Drive in Vancouver: Marpole House for sale (Vancouver West) : MLS®# R2636865
173 SW MARINE Drive Vancouver V5X 2P9
$4,810,575Residential Detached- Status:
- Active
- MLS® Num:
- R2636865
- Bedrooms:
- 6
- Bathrooms:
- 2
- Floor Area:
- 2,600 sq. ft.
Developers & Investors Alert! 2.5FSR Cambie-Marpole Plan, Up to 6 Storeys apartment project site. 3 lots (153-173 SW Marine Dr. ) Total lot size 15107 SF. Potential to assemble 3 extra lots, roughly 12050SF to the east side neighbors. Great location walk to Marine Gateway shopping center and skytrain station. Top schools catchment, minutes to Oakridge Mall, downtown, Airport & Richmond! More detailsListed by Dracco Pacific Realty - Aedis Realty
- 604-688-8669
- 604-657-1111
- Contact by Email
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165 SW MARINE Drive in Vancouver: Marpole House for sale (Vancouver West) : MLS®# R2738703
165 SW MARINE Drive Vancouver V5X 2P9
$4,406,000Residential Detached- Status:
- Active
- MLS® Num:
- R2738703
- Bedrooms:
- 7
- Bathrooms:
- 4
- Floor Area:
- 3,015 sq. ft.
Developers & Investors Alert!! Cambie-Marpole Plan, Up to 6 Storeys APARTMENT BUILDING. 2.5FSR project site. 153-173 SW Marine Dr. Total lot size 15107 SF. Potential to assemble 3 extra lots, roughly 12050SF to the east side. True rare opportunity for investment or development in prestigious Westside and future!! Great location walk to Marine Gateway shopping, all amenities and More detailsListed by Dracco Pacific Realty - Aedis Realty
- 604-688-8669
- 604-657-1111
- Contact by Email
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153 SW MARINE Drive in Vancouver: Marpole House for sale (Vancouver West) : MLS®# R2636850
153 SW MARINE Drive Vancouver V5X 2P9
$4,002,075Residential Detached- Status:
- Active
- MLS® Num:
- R2636850
- Bedrooms:
- 6
- Bathrooms:
- 2
- Floor Area:
- 2,216 sq. ft.
Developers & Investors Alert! 2.5FSR Cambie-Marpole Plan, Up to 6 Storeys apartment project site. 3 lots (153-173 SW Marine Dr. ) Total lot size 15107 SF. Potential to assemble 3 extra lots, roughly 12050SF to the east side neighbors. Great location walk to Marine Gateway shopping center and skytrain station. Top schools catchment, minutes to Oakridge Mall, downtown, Airport & Richmond! More detailsListed by Dracco Pacific Realty - Aedis Realty
- 604-688-8669
- 604-657-1111
- Contact by Email
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1260 E 54TH Avenue in Vancouver: South Vancouver House for sale (Vancouver East) : MLS®# R2761760
1260 E 54TH Avenue Vancouver V5X 1L9
$3,700,000Residential Detached- Status:
- Active
- MLS® Num:
- R2761760
- Bedrooms:
- 2
- Bathrooms:
- 1
- Floor Area:
- 2,387 sq. ft.
ATTN Builders. Corner lot 66' x 142.38' or 9397 sq ft total. Can build approximately 6,698 sq ft side by side Duplex or potential to build 4 to 6 units. More detailsListed by Unilife Realty Inc. - Aedis Realty
- 604-688-8669
- 604-657-1111
- Contact by Email
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603 E 57TH Avenue in Vancouver: South Vancouver House for sale (Vancouver East) : MLS®# R2752286
603 E 57TH Avenue Vancouver V5X 1T1
$3,684,120Residential Detached- Status:
- Active
- MLS® Num:
- R2752286
- Bedrooms:
- 5
- Bathrooms:
- 5
- Floor Area:
- 2,549 sq. ft.
HAEL Construction brings you this newly constructed Step Code 5 energy efficient home with VRF Samsung heating/cooling system, CRESTON home automation, HRV system with UV light for clean and fresh filtration and so much more. This custom built home has 3 bedrooms and 2.5 baths in the main living areas with a 500 sq ft rooftop deck complete with a fire pit & TV+speaker setup, 1 bedroom legal suite and 1 bedroom laneway home. Open style kitchen with a Fisher & Paykel appliance package; induction cooktop, coffee maker, speedoven, 36”fridge. Custom island with Vicostone counters finished throughout the home, imported Italian tiles and custom millwork throughout the home. EV charger in the carport and the home has 400 amp service. Book your private showing! More detailsListed by RE/MAX Crest Realty - Aedis Realty
- 604-688-8669
- 604-657-1111
- Contact by Email
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139 SW MARINE Drive in Vancouver: Marpole House for sale (Vancouver West) : MLS®# R2738380
139 SW MARINE Drive Vancouver V5X 2P9
$3,590,000Residential Detached- Status:
- Active
- MLS® Num:
- R2738380
- Bedrooms:
- 4
- Bathrooms:
- 2
- Floor Area:
- 1,660 sq. ft.
Developers & Investors Alert!! 6 Lots land assembly. Cambie-Marpole Plan, Up to 6 Storeys APARTMENT, 2.5FSR. Total lot size:27158SF, estimate buildable size:67895SF. Rare opportunity to hold or build in Westside!! Great location, close to Marine Gateway shopping, all amenities, Canada Line Station, and top schools; minutes to Oakridge Mall, downtown, Airport & Richmond! More detailsListed by Dracco Pacific Realty - Aedis Realty
- 604-688-8669
- 604-657-1111
- Contact by Email
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121 SW MARINE Drive in Vancouver: Marpole House for sale (Vancouver West) : MLS®# R2740548
121 SW MARINE Drive Vancouver V5X 2P9
$3,510,000Residential Detached- Status:
- Active
- MLS® Num:
- R2740548
- Bedrooms:
- 9
- Bathrooms:
- 8
- Floor Area:
- 3,292 sq. ft.
Developers & Investors Alert!! This well maintained 11 years new house, with laneway house is one of the 6 Lots Land Assembly. Located in Cambie-Marpole Plan, Up to Storeys APARTMENT, 2.5 FSR. Total assembly lot size: 27158SF, estimate buildable size:67895SF. Rare opportunity to hold or build in Westside!! Great location, close to Marine Gateway shopping, all amenities, Canada Line Station, and top schools; minutes to Oakridge Mall, downtown, Airport & Richmond! More detailsListed by Dracco Pacific Realty - Aedis Realty
- 604-688-8669
- 604-657-1111
- Contact by Email
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45 E 49TH Avenue in Vancouver: Main House for sale (Vancouver East) : MLS®# R2720127
45 E 49TH Avenue Vancouver V5W 2G1
$3,500,000Residential Detached- Status:
- Active
- MLS® Num:
- R2720127
- Bedrooms:
- 5
- Bathrooms:
- 3
- Floor Area:
- 1,833 sq. ft.
Developers and Investors Alert!!! Potential land assemble , for more information, visit the city of Vancouver, lot size 33 X 142, 4686 sq.ft. close to Langara College, walking distance to Canada Line Station, Langara Golf Course & Oakridge Mall. Rental ensuite downstairs with separate enterance. There are 3 bedrooms - only 2 of the 3 are rented. 1 is kept for storage. More detailsListed by RE/MAX Westcoast - Aedis Realty
- 604-688-8669
- 604-657-1111
- Contact by Email
